Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby Starring: Will Ferrell Director: Adam McKay Rated: PG-13 According to the opening scene of Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Eleanor Rossevent once said, "America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, badass speed.

On the morning of Sunday, July 23, seven people were shot and two were stabbed in the span of four hours in Philadelphia, including a 22-year old man who was shot in the face. This spate of violence is only a small part of the city's gradual increase in crime, but it helps illustrate Philadelphia's newest grim statistic: the city's homicide rate has increased by 7% from this point last year.

Well folks, it's been fun. We've laughed (I did at least), we've cried (mostly over my bad jokes), we had a good run, but now we've come to the end of the road. And I appreciate all of you who still actually are reading this. So Donnie, thank you.

Most students who take summer classes just go through the same routine as during the other semesters. But one group of students is able to earn summer credits without ever stepping foot on Locust Walk. Instead those students are enjoying unique cultures in far off cities such as Buenos Aires, London, Florence, and Seoul.

The effects of the Penn football team's underachieving season last year may now be starting to show. Division I-AA's 2006 preseason All-America list includes no players currently on the Quakers' roster for the second year in a row. Four Ivy Leaguers made the list of preseason All-Americans -- Harvard running back Clifton Dawson and defensive tackle Mike Berg, Yale offensive tackle Ed McCarthy, and Brown linebacker Zac DeOssie.

Many Pennsylvanians are getting a raise for the first time in nearly a decade, but Penn students hoping to see their paychecks swell may be disappointed. Governor Ed Rendell signed legislation on July 9 that will increase Pennsylvania's minimum wage from the federal standard of $5.

Kaitlin Baggott is a College junior from Floral Park, N.Y. Her e-mail address is kbaggott@sas.upenn.edu.

For the first time in the last 25 years, Penn can finally look forward to the opening of a new Veterinary School facility. Set to open its doors on October 31, the four-story Vernon and Shirley Hill Pavilion, located at 38th and Woodland streets, underwent its groundbreaking in April of 2004.

I've spent the bulk of the last two summers in Philadelphia. Same house, same bedroom, (unfortunately) same landlord. Same car that won't start when I want to go home for the weekend. Same trips to 7-11 for donuts when I'm bored. Same. Old. Shit. It's not all the same though.

The decision by Penn Admissions not to consider Keenan Jeppesen's transfer application -- effectively keeping him at Brown for the time being -- was a routine decision complicated by Glen Miller's move from Brown to Penn earlier this year. When Miller accepted the job several months ago, he became the first man ever to lead two Ivy League programs.

It may not have the star power of the 2004 presidential election, but this November's upcoming election is generating heat in Pennsylvania. And the candidates are already working to win Penn students' votes. Hotly contested elections are springing up across the state.

Last week, Stephen Morse wrote a column urging support for Israel in its fight against Hezbollah. It is a just fight. Hezbollah -- a terrorist organization with a lengthy history of attacks against Israel, the United States and other Western targets -- attacked a sovereign state in its own territory.

I ordered the party hats and balloons. The cake has already arrived. When I heard the news about Keenan Jeppesen's transfer being denied, it felt like it was time to throw myself a party. Finally a victory for guys like me. In a world where it seems that college athletes have privileges to no end, it was a victory for guys like me, who have no athletic talent beyond the ability to run for a couple of hours without stopping.